This is a huge step. After Travel Approval comes an application for a Consulate Appointment. This is the final step before we can make travel plans. The Consulate Appointment in China is important because the embassy will issue a visa so that Hope can enter the USA.
Actually, we have a Consulate Appointment, too. Which means we should be booking flights and packing.
But we aren't. Because we have hit a snag. Because of Hope's medical history, she has a high risk of being a TB carrier. Because of her age, she may be required to have a TB test which involves a culture that takes 6-8 weeks for the results.
Oh, and did I mention that she turns 14 on May 13. We MUST adopt her before she turns 14.
We don't know how this will play out. We do know that we have an awesome agency, Lifeline, working diligently on our behalf to determine the best plan of action. We also have the assurance from our social worker Karla that she will not let Hope age out. She is our daughter. We will get this done.
And most of all, we know that God loves Hope deeply. He has promised to set the lonely in families and He will work to bring Hope home. We are waiting and trusting to see how this will work out.
So, what do we do while we wait? Work in a circus, turn into mermaids and eat ice cream, of course!
My mom and I took my two little girls on a short trip down to the Tampa area for Spring Break. As I will be away from them a couple of weeks during our trip to China, it was really nice to be able to spend some special time with them. We had a great time :)
It was a fun distraction, as we continue to wait...
Psalm 62:5
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
It will happen. God has this :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, just FYI, try to return with Hope prior to her 14th birthday or you'll be treated to another trip to USCIS. They will require her to sign a "pledge of allegiance" before she will receive her CoC. We were so late getting SongSong it couldn't be avoided - but I just wanted to warn you.